Farm Bill

Once again, the CJ editorial board sadly and conveniently omitted facts in the erroneous charges against myself and my House GOP colleagues. I, along with Reps. Whitfield, Barr and Guthrie, did in fact vote for a comprehensive Farm Bill package on June 27, which included nearly $744 billion in SNAP funding and food security over the next 10 years. This critical legislation, agreed in the House Agriculture Committee on a bipartisan basis, would have gone to great lengths to make sure those who truly need food assistance receive it, while providing security for Kentucky's proud family growers and livestock holders.

Unfortunately, this package failed to garner enough votes to pass on the House floor due in large part to a coordinated Democrat opposition over what would have constituted a 3 percent reduction in SNAP funding - a program that has uncontrollably grown to assist 47 million Americans. Those voting no included Reps. John Yarmuth and Nancy Pelosi. Peeling off the SNAP provisions of this legislation was not a first choice, but a last choice in moving the Farm Bill forward. I, like most of my colleagues, fully desire and expect SNAP to be part of any final Farm Bill agreement. The failure here is not with the House, which chose to move this important bill forward, but by your inability to report the truth to your readers.

U.S. REP. HAL ROGERS

5th Congressional District

Somerset, Ky. 42503

State representation

It's good to hear that the Republicans from Kentucky, U.S. House Reps. Rogers, Whitfield, Guthrie and Barr, are totally in sync with the other obstructionist Republicans in Washington. Their stance against the Affordable Care Act is totally predictable. They tell us in the CJ July 23 that "we really need common sense reforms that give patients access to the health care that they want, from a doctor that they choose, and at a price they can afford." Hey! I'd vote for that!

Let's hear their plan. Let's hear of anything they have done that's constructive. And somebody suggested Guthrie for Kentucky governor? It's bad enough to have two U.S. senators who are a disgrace to Kentucky. We need Guthrie, or someone worse, for governor? Where are informed voters in this state? How do these people get into office in the first place?

PATRICIA W. OLIVER

Louisville 40220

Compassion not aggression

The University of Kentucky football program has now graced our highways with a large billboard urging us to "Attack Every Day." I object to this incitement to aggression. To attack means to set upon in a forceful, violent, hostile, aggressive manner, and to attempt to cause injury. Words influence our conscious and unconscious life in powerful ways. The UK football coach can urge his over-sized players to attack if he so desires, but the rest of us should be spared the metaphor, because life is not a battle. Every day should be seen as an opportunity to express compassion, not aggression.

ROBERT P. FRIEDLAND, MD

Louisville 40207

Affirmed idea

In response to the person who wrote the July 24 letter, "Impact on workers," I'd like to say, "Thank you, well stated!"

J. CARDEN

Taylorsville, Ky. 40071

Political campaigning

I guess that our senior senator must be running scared. He is already running negative attack ads against the only declared opposition he has to his re-election campaign. Too bad that for the next 14 months we will be subjected to more of this type of campaigning in stead of real substance to this race.

IAN SCHILL

Louisville 40207

Fair and balanced

Thursday's Community page included a letter from a person that claimed "at least 50 percent" of the letters published in that section "bashed" people who disagreed with the CJ's editorial positions. 50 percent, huh? Sounds pretty "fair and balanced" to me. Remind you of anyone?